1. Latitude and Longitude:
Finding Locations on
Planet Earth.

2. Latitude lines (also known as parallels) run east/west but they measure north or south of the equator (0°) splitting the earth into the Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere.

3. Latitude
Lines of latitude are numbered from 0° at the equator to 90° N at the North Pole.
TEKS: Social Studies –
6.22 (A), Using social studies terminology correctly
7.22 (A), 8.31 (A)
Lines of latitude are numbered from 0° at the equator to 90° S at the South Pole.

4. 45° N is the 45° line of latitude north of the equator.
Latitude The North Pole is at 90° N The equator is at 0° latitude. It is neither north nor south. It is at the center between north and south The South Pole is at 90° S
45° N is the 45° line of latitude north of the equator.
45° S is the 45° line of latitude south of the equator.
TEKS: Social Studies –
6.22 (A), Using social studies terminology correctly
7.22 (A), 8.31 (A)

5. Longitude 0° N
North Pole W E
West Longitude
East Longitude
PRIME MERIDIAN S
Lines of longitude (also known as meridians) are numbered east from the Prime Meridian and west from the Prime Meridian.
TEKS: Social Studies –
6.22 (A), Using social studies terminology correctly
7.22 (A), 8.31 (A)

6. Longitude Lines of longitude begin at the Prime Meridian.
60° E is the 60° line of longitude east of the Prime Meridian.
60° W is the
60° line of
longitude west
of the Prime
Meridian.
The Prime Meridian is located at 0°. It is neither east or west W E
TEKS: Social Studies –
6.22 (A), Using social studies terminology correctly
7.22 (A), 8.31 (A)

7. Prime Meridian The Prime Meridian (0°) splits the earth into the Western Hemisphere and Eastern Hemisphere.
Prime Meridian
Western Hemisphere
Eastern Hemisphere
Places located east of the Prime Meridian have an east longitude (E) address. Places located west of the Prime Meridian have a west longitude (W) address.
TEKS: Social Studies –
6.22 (A), Using social studies terminology correctly
7.22 (A), 8.31 (A)

8. Any location north of the equator is a NORTH LATITUDE

9. Any location south of the equator is a SOUTH LATITUDE

10. Any location west of the prime meridian is a WEST LONGITUDE

11. Any location east of the prime meridian is an EAST LONGITUDE

12. By combining latitude and longitude, any location can be pinpointed

13. How many lines of longitude pass the Sun in one hour?
The earth rotates 360o around its axis (there are 360 degrees of longitude lines) in 24 hours.
Given the above information, can you answer the question?
Hint: set the problem up as a proportion. Label the ratios with units. Make sure that the same units are in either the numerator or denominator.
360o/24 hours = xo / 1 hour
So one hour = 360o/24 hours = 15 degrees of longitude
Answer: The Sun passes 15 lines of longitude (15o) in one hour.
Another question: how many minutes does it take the Sun to pass one degree of longitude?
15o/60 minutes = 1o/ x minutes
one degree longitude = 60 minutes/15 degrees = 4 minutes
It takes the Sun 4 minutes to pass one degree of longitude.

14. What are the coordinates of location......A
60°N, 30°W
75°S, 75°E
15°S, 105°W
The lines of latitude and longitude on this map increase by 15°. With that in mind how
can we identify specific locations (red dots)? Remember, write latitude first!
What are the coordinates of location......A
What are the coordinates of location......B
What are the coordinates of location......C
But what about location D ? It’s in the middle of a box. What do we do now?

15. Here are some things to remember:
> Latitude is written first and must always include N (north) or S (south) of the equator.
> Longitude is written next and must always include E (east) or W (west) of the prime meridian.

16. See If You Can Tell In Which Hemispheres These Lon/Lats Are Located
1. 41°N, 21°E
2. 37°N, 76°W
3. 72°S, 141°W
4. 7°S, 23°W
5. 15°N, 29°E
6. 34°S, 151°E A B D C

17. Let's See How
You Did!
1. B
2. A
3. C
4. C
5. B
6. D

18. Now you’re ready to find some locations on a map!
Number your paper Write the latitude and longitude coordinates for each star.

19. Answers 1. 60°N, 120°W 2. 30°N, 30°W 3. 60°N, 0 4. 60°N, 90°E
9. 30°S, 60°E
10. 60°S, 150°E